General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere's something much more nefarious with the Michael Cohen case.
Why would he get a loan on his house if he had $774,000 in a slush fund??
Why didn't he just write a check for $130,000??
Could it be that he wanted to hide where the money actually came from?
Nobody actually believes that he has that much money on hand just to handle "Trump problems" that might pop up. There is much more to this story.
Their method of operation is one of deception, to hide their tracks, to prevent discovery, and to keep the money flowing.
But where does the money come from? Where does it originate? Is Russia involved?
We don't yet know the answers but from the information that has come out in the last couple of days, it appears that Trump and Rudy are attempting to portray this as just a simple payment to protect Melania and the Family. But you can bet, there is much, much more to this story.
The relevant files from the search warrant will be handed over to the prosecutors in another week or two and the puzzle pieces should begin to fall together.
greymattermom
(5,751 posts)because so many years, actually all of Barron's childhood, passed between the 'event' and the payment. The Trump group is all bluster and intimidation and no brains. Mueller, Avenatti, and their assembled experts are all brains, and are tougher than Trump. The country is a reality tv show with new episodes every day, and I'm betting on brains over bluster.
bucolic_frolic
(42,679 posts)and the press counters - it only happened then because the Stormy story was about to be uncovered. Don't know what to make of it, but that's a question that must also be answered.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Revealed some of what he has yesterday. Many phone calls between Cohen and Stormys former Attorney right before the election.
Siwsan
(26,178 posts)I guess the ONLY qualification for working with trump* is incompetence.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,535 posts)That the loyalty requires a low level of mental acuity leaves your point completely intact.
H2O Man
(73,333 posts)Yesterday, I posted an essay here about Cohen's troubles. He is not merely caught between the federal investigators-prosecutors and Trump. He has bragged for years about being connected to the Russian mob. He now must realize they used him as a pathway to influence Trump. And so, to turn against Trump now, in an effort to save himself, he would have to cooperate against the Russian mob.
Many years ago, when my brothers and I had begun making a name for ourselves in boxing, some wealthy "fans" took an interest in us. They were nice to us, and being dumb kids, we were so pleased. Now, our father -- a first generation Irish American with 13 siblings and lots of cousins -- had siblings and cousins in state and federal police, and intelligence. They told us to be polite to these nice fellows, but to avoid connecting with them. We weren't happy, since these gentlemen were so nice to us. An uncle explained just who they were, why they were kind to us, and how we could eventually end up in their debt.
Years later, the same uncle helped send those guys to the federal pen.
kentuck
(110,950 posts)In fact, I would bet on it.
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)related to underage girls.
duforsure
(11,882 posts)Did they already know what he liked and set him up by using under age girls? Do they have video's of him? Did he pay off the 13 year old that accused him of raping her, and had a witness?
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)else said about him.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)When the truth about Trump explodes, it is going to be interesting to watch rightwing evangelicals and their hypocrisy.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)That Prague trip begins to look more and more credible.
lindysalsagal
(20,444 posts)and Mueller has the proof in cohen's crap. Now, mueller is setting up cohen to testify and/or plead guilty and hand over the docs.
Cohen's got it all.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)I simply love the cat meme. I keep watching it over and over. It makes me laugh. And it describes perfectly how I feel about this whole mess.
Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)I might be wrong on the exact amounts but I thought the $749,000 Cohen had access to was actually 2 checks about $500,00 and $249,000 with the $500 being a mortgage his parents took out on their Trump appartment and the $133,000 was taken out of that $500,000.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Was one of the stories. So many lies,who knows at this point?
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)This looks to entangle a lot of people, with Trump hidden at the center of the festering mess.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)My understanding is that Cohen arranged for home equity loans for a line of credit he could draw against. Usually those are made for home improvements and if that is what was stated on the home equity loan application that could be the bank fraud part of the potential charges by using it for other purposes.
As for the question (not yours, Backwoodsrider) about the loan on his in-laws apartment - if Cohen (and his wife) were co-signers on the original mortgage they could obtain a home equity loan on the same property if the in-laws agreed.
B2G
(9,766 posts)Banks don't ask what the HELOC is for.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)By Michael Rothfeld, Erica Orden and Joe Palazzolo
Updated April 15, 2018 10:50 p.m. ET
<SNIP>
Investigators are examining whether Mr. Cohen fraudulently used a bank loan for something other than the purpose he described on his loan application, the person said.
The Journal previously reported that First Republic Bank, which Mr. Cohen used to wire the payment to Ms. Cliffords lawyer in October 2016, conducted its own investigation into the transaction after receiving a subpoena from federal authorities, according to another person familiar with the matter.
First Republic sent its findings to the Treasury Department in a so-called SAR, or suspicious-activity report, the person said. Such reports are required to be sent to the Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network when banks observe transactions that have no apparent lawful purpose or deviate inexplicably from a customers normal bank activity.
First Republic Bank declined to comment.
More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-used-the-same-delaware-company-for-payment-deals-to-two-women-1523835216
Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)I thought they had to provide to the bank exactly where the funds were going but even if there is no further problems with cohen wiring the payment there are many more laws rules and regulations they had to follow. The Investigators are probably looking forward to a new work week, but the Trump team not so much.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)I have no experience with home equity loans - or mortgages for that matter - so I know nothing about how they work. What I have read indicates that if Cohen lied about the use of the money he could be in trouble.
I think the investigations into Trump's business and that of his associates is going to heat up a lot over the next month or two!
Backwoodsrider
(764 posts)going to be exciting week.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)He is a very wealthy man.
Eyeball_Kid
(7,410 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)It is too explosive to print or to talk about....
safeinOhio
(32,532 posts)Bank Fraud.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,535 posts)Oh, wait...
lindysalsagal
(20,444 posts)OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)spanone
(135,636 posts)mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)bucolic_frolic
(42,679 posts)every time they shroud themselves in family or adoptions, be skeptical if not suspicious.
$774k is 3 sweeps from a trust, index mutual, or retirement account. $130k is almost chump change at their level, it's liquidity or cash equivalents to take advantage of opportunities.
Something's not adding up.
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)Thanks for the thread, kentuck.
kentuck
(110,950 posts)Thanks!
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)The guy is from New York City and he went all the way to Lansing, Michigan to attend a tier 4 law school? Cooley Law is a joke in Michigan, one of the worst law schools in the country. I guess he couldn't get into Columbia.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)It's not a good idea to be crooked when you are fantastically stupid.
elmac
(4,642 posts)can get a bankster loan for just about any amount, for any reason at almost zero interest. The banksters only screw the 90%
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,789 posts)RockRaven
(14,784 posts)Also, I heard pointed out that if you've got access to a sleazy lawyer, lawyer fees (whether retainers or billed hours) are a common way of paying bribes, laundering money, etc through a second party (the lawyer). From the records of the source of the bribe, the client, the expenses look legit -- and like with art or real estate values, lawyers rates vary over a large range, so it's not always obvious that the client is overpaying/generating slush. The movement of money from client to lawyer seems clean, the other step may or may not.
Of course if the prosecutor gets access to the lawyers records, they can probably prove the bribes, money laundering, etc. Hence Trump's freak-out on Cohen getting raided.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)She's in it for the money/lifestyle.
triron
(21,916 posts)Mueller is asking himself the same questions...
If he doesnt know already....
DallasNE
(7,392 posts)But I read that Trump paid Cohen $35,000 a month for 12 months starting in January 2017. That amounts to $420,000. Trump was flush with left over money from his inauguration committee and that money has never been accounted for.
paleotn
(17,781 posts)One doesn't raid the law office and residences of the personal lawyer to the president of the United States just over payoffs to a porn star. There's far more to the story than Stormy Daniels. Far more.
Have said the same thing.
Cha
(295,929 posts)Very well said.
erronis
(14,955 posts)We all have opinions, some of us have some knowledge.
The DOJ has a lot of power to investigate, as does the New York and other state prosecutors. Robert Mueller operating as the Special Counsel has additional powers.
The representatives of the people (Senate and House) have been knee-capped and hijacked by special interests.
The legal branch (Supreme Court and lower federal courts) should be able to pass judgement in an impartial way, but they have been stacked or eviscerated.
The executive branch has a lot of actionable capabilities, including possible actions that would involve the military and foreign affairs.
The press - including these outlets, MSM, even fux have a tremendous influence but much is distraction versus useful information.
There are so many possible plot lines that could happen. Most of them not good for this country and its people.
Good night, and good luck!
Amaryllis
(9,523 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,320 posts)by Trump and deducted on his taxes as legal fees, but not legit legal fees, then Trump is flat out caught for tax evasion.
Could have something to do with why Trump has refused to release his tax returns.